Johnson was one of several gems in Western Michigan's 2014 signing class ranked the highest in Mid-American Conference history.

It is believed Johnson will look to attend a junior college for a year and then look to sign with a school.

Fleck said WMU will bring in Tyree Stone-Davis, a three-star cornerback out of Pierce College in Woodland, Calif. to fill Johnson's roster spot. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder has three years of eligibility.

Tyree Stone-Davis and his brother Tyrin signed with Illinois on Dec. 18 last year, but they did not enroll at the university at that time.

"They have to meet the standards that the NCAA requires ... (but) we're very comfortable they can make it, especially Tyrin," Beckman told the News-Gazette. "Tyrin is ahead of Tyree. They understand to be successful and meet those standards at the University of Illinois, this is what you've got to do. They know exactly what's in front of them and exactly what they need to get accomplished."